Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 122Ordaining Untrained Unmarried Girls

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 122

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Bhagavān was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, at the city of Śrāvastī. At that time, the bhikṣuṇīs heard that the Blessed One had established a rule permitting the ordination of a woman of eighteen years of age to undergo two years of training in the precepts, and upon reaching the full age of twenty, to receive the full ordination. There was a certain woman who was not eighteen years of age and had not undergone two years of training in the precepts, yet upon reaching the full age of twenty she was given the full ordination. Because she lacked the two years of training in the precepts, after receiving the full ordination she did not know which precepts she should train in.

The bhikṣuṇīs heard of this; among them were those of few desires and contentment, who lived the ascetic life, were devoted to learning the precepts, and possessed a sense of shame and remorse. They reproached those bhikṣuṇīs, saying: "The Blessed One established a rule permitting the ordination of a woman of eighteen years of age to undergo two years of training in the precepts, and upon reaching twenty years of age to receive the full ordination. Why then did you give the full ordination to a woman who was not eighteen years of age and had not undergone two years of training in the precepts, simply because she had reached the age of twenty? Because she lacked the two years of training in the precepts, she does not know which precepts she should train in."

The bhikṣuṇīs went and reported this to the bhikṣus. The bhikṣus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the community of bhikṣus and reproached the bhikṣuṇīs, saying:

"What you have done is wrong, contrary to proper conduct, contrary to the Dharma of the śramaṇa, contrary to pure conduct, contrary to harmonious behavior — this is something that should not be done. The Blessed One established a rule permitting the ordination of a woman of eighteen years of age to undergo two years of training in the precepts, and upon reaching twenty years of age to receive the full ordination. Why then did you give the full ordination to a woman who was not eighteen years of age and had not undergone two years of training in the precepts, simply because she had reached the age of twenty? Because she lacked the two years of training in the precepts, she does not know which precepts she should train in."

The Blessed One, having reproached the bhikṣuṇīs by means of countless skillful methods, then said to the bhikṣus:

"These bhikṣuṇīs are a field that cultivates many defiled seeds, and they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall establish this rule for the bhikṣuṇīs, comprising ten principles, up to and including the phrase 'so that the true Dharma may long endure.'"

The rule should be stated as follows:

Whichever bhikṣuṇī, in the case of an unmarried girl of eighteen years of age who has not been given two years of training in the precepts, upon reaching the full age of twenty then gives her the full ordination — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikṣuṇī: the meaning is as above.

Whichever bhikṣuṇī confers the full ordination upon an unmarried girl of eighteen years of age who has not been given two years of training in the precepts: upon the completion of three羯磨 (karmavācanā), the preceptress bhikṣuṇī incurs a pācittiya. Upon the completion of two karmavācanās, three duṣkṛtas. Upon the completion of one karmavācanā, two duṣkṛtas. Upon the completion of the motion (jñapti), one duṣkṛta. Before the motion is completed, a duṣkṛta. Before the motion has been put forth, in assembling the community — once the assembly is complete — all incur a duṣkṛta.

A bhikṣu: duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if an unmarried girl of eighteen years of age has undergone two years of training in the precepts, and upon reaching the full age of twenty is given the full ordination, there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits it for the first time before the rule has been established; one who is mentally deranged; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is overcome by suffering and torment.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikṣu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA, PART ONE.

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka Master Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Edited and annotated by: Bhikṣu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

(Chinese translation, fascicles 1–21; Vietnamese translation, volumes 1 and 2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee, 2002.